The USS Enterprise's Last Tour
After 51 years of service, the historic aircraft carrier is about to be decommissioned.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- Air & Space magazine, November 2012
U.S. Navy/Lt. Cmdr. Josh Hammond
When the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) sailed away from Norfolk, Virginia, on its maiden voyage in 1962, it was the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and the eighth Enterprise in a long dynasty reaching back to the Revolutionary War. Its eight nuclear reactors, reported the Chicago Daily Defender, had an energy potential "as great as that of all the reactors in the free world."
The most recent Enterprise played a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, along with other ships in the Second Fleet, blockading shipments of military equipment to Cuba. During the height of the Vietnam War, nearly 100 aircraft were launched each day from the Enterprise, laden with explosives and bound for the Ho Chi Minh Trail. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the carrier—headed home after a long deployment—steamed overnight to the North Arabian Sea to participate in Operation Enduring Freedom.
On December 1, 2012, the carrier will be inactivated, ending 51 years of service. See the gallery above for more about its history. Here, two F/A-18 Super Hornets fly past the Enterprise on its last deployment, on October 4, 2012.
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Comments (8)
Correction: the USS Enterprise in 1812 did not 'chase privateers', but participated in a battle in which it defeated and captured the HMS Boxer, a Royal Navy ship. (Read Knights of the Sea). Both Captains perished in the engagement, and are buried side-by-side in Portland, ME.
As someone who as a US dependent got his 'little fannie' (I was six--great helicopter ride!) extracted from the Dominican Republic in 1965 by Marines based on the USS Boxer (whose name we can by tradition use, having captured it), I could not let the sleigh to the Enterprise name, however unintended, go unchallenged.
Posted by Luis Figarella on November 20,2012 | 06:48 AM
When the USS ENTERPRISE was launched in the early 60s, it was a CVAN. At that time it had no weapons on board for offensive use other than airplanes. The close in support weapons weren't installed until we returned from our first deployment at Vietnam. I could be wrong, but there none when i served aboard the "Big E".
Posted by Anthony Zander on November 20,2012 | 11:56 PM
Now, like so many veterans, she will be sent to the junk pile.
Posted by Curtiss L. Poteat on November 20,2012 | 12:59 AM
I do not belive the "Enterprise CVN 65" should be scrapped, but it should be permanently docked so people could see it. It is an historic ship. It is the U S Navy's first nuclear Aircraft Carrier. It is world's largest ship. It is the 8th ship in the U S Navy to carry the name, and the first one was launched in 1755. In World War II there was a Aircraft Carrier named the USS Enterprise that was a sister Carrier named the USS Hornet that a part of the Tokyo Raid in April 1942.
Posted by Charles A. Windham on November 30,2012 | 12:16 AM
I do not belive the "Enterprise CVN 65" should be scrapped, but it should be permanently docked so people could see it. It is an historic ship. It is the U S Navy's first nuclear Aircraft Carrier. It is world's largest ship. It is the 8th ship in the U S Navy to carry the name, and the first one was launched in 1755. In World War II there was a Aircraft Carrier named the USS Enterprise that was a sister Carrier named the USS Hornet that a part of the Tokyo Raid in April 1942.
Posted by Charles A. Windham on November 30,2012 | 12:16 AM
I was the electronic equipment design engineer for the
Radar Switchboards used in the CVN 65's Combat Information Center (CIC room). The switchboards were designed and built
by Hughes Aircraft Company at their Fullerton, California plant.
Posted by Richard Thurston on December 1,2012 | 07:23 PM
USS LAFFEY DD-724, sole escort upon Enterprise service shakedown. Laffey now museam status at Patriots Point. The "BIG E" deserves at a minimum, a place in the sun, forever on!
Posted by Jack Smith on December 2,2012 | 07:38 AM
To whom it may concern,
I was writing to you with questions regarding the USS Enterprise. I was made aware that the Enterprise has been retired as an active ship and wanted to know if the Enterprise has since become a tourist attraction or if tours were allowed to be taken on the ship. The reason the Enterprise is so important to my family and myself is because my father served in the Navy on the Enterprise during the Vietnam War. My father passed away 2 years ago and my mother and I are taking a vacation in June and would love to tour the Enterprise if at possible. Any information regarding my request would be greatly appreciated..
Thank you very much,
April Dameron
aprildameron69@gmail.com
Posted by April Dameron on March 23,2013 | 11:00 PM